Ohio to get $1.4M in pharmaceutical settlement

COLUMBUS -- Ohio's attorney general says the state will receive almost $1.4 million in restitution and other recovery as part of a recent settlement agreement by a pharmaceutical company.

The U.S. Justice Department said Thursday that Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc. will pay $95 million to settle allegations that the company promoted three drugs for uses that were not medically accepted.

The Justice Department says the three are the stroke-prevention drug Aggrenox, the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease drug Combivent and the high blood pressure drug Micardis.

The company also promoted the use of a fourth drug, Atrovent, at doses exceeding those covered by federal health care programs.

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine says accurate marketing is vital for those who are in need of the medications and also those paying for them.